Guided Walks to High Cup Nick, The Dales Highway and The Westmorland Way

We are very lucky in that perhaps the most spectacular feature and walk in the North Pennines is on our doorstep. High Cup Nick or High Cup Gill as it is sometimes referred to, is one of the greatest and truly dramatic geological formations in the UK.

From the village of Dufton the walk can also be combined with a walk along the old pony tracks for the lead mines behind Dufton Pike and up Threkeld Side, past the ancient lime kiln, lead mines and on upwards onto Great Rundale Tarn and Dufton Fell itself. A different feeling all together of being literally on top of the world, with its rolling open moorland with its precious peat hags and priceless fauna and flora.

The walk then joins the Pennine way across the footbridge over Maize Beck and onto the full majesty of High Cup Nick itself and the downhill route along the bowl of the gill back to Dufton with views across the Eden Valley to both the Lake District Fells and the Yorkshire Dales.

We can organise a local guide for this walk who both farms on Dufton Fell and has knowledge of the mining and the conservation of the grouse moors. He also does not need a sat nav if the clouds come down, proper local knowledge!!!! Prices start by arrangement from £80, Very good value.

Appleby is also fortunate to have a number of established long distance walks like The Dales Highway, The Westmorland Way and Lady Anne's Way that either start or finish with us depending on which way around you approach them. There are now several firms that offer baggage transfer services, so that you can take advantage of staying somewhere comfortable each night and have your bags ferried on. There is a published guide to The Dales Highway a long distance walk from Saltaire near Bradford to Appleby. The route is 90 miles long and takes 6 days. The pocket sized guide is written by Tony and Chris Grogan and is just £6.99. All details are on their website www.daleshighway.org.uk . There is an excellent guide book for Lady Anne's Way from the website www.ladyannesway.co.uk. The Westmorland Way is well covered by Brigantes on their website where you can also buy a competitive baggage transfer deal for all of the walks leaving you free to choose your own accommodation.

There are also lesser-known routes full of interest and challenge too, covering a variety of terrain, a wealth of flora and fauna and spanning centuries of man's struggle to tame the wilder uplands. If like me you like Rivers, then the Eden Way travels from the source of the River Eden at Mallerstang to Carlisle. If you prefer to have an more organised walking holiday, there are numerous guided walks throughout the year - take a look at the visit eden and GoLakes tourist board websites for further details of walking events.

We are also fortunate to have the Settle Carlisle railway running through Appleby which offers many guided walks from different stations ranging in difficulty from hill walking to easy rambles. The Discover Eden website also has several circular walks which have been improved for easy access and are clearly marked.

The Eden Valley provides an attractive venue for those wanting a short walking holiday and a convenient base for taking on some more serious hill walking. Have a short break or weekend break in Cumbria at the Tufton Arms Hotel for your next walking holiday.

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A worthy cause has come to my attention. Fix The Fellsare endeavouring to prevent erosion and preserve our walks all over Cumbria

Discover the natural beauty of the Eden Valley...

The Tufton Arms is set in the Eden Valley, an area of secluded, uspoilt beauty that takes its name from the river that meanders through the lush verdant countryside. It offers an area full of opportunities for an interesting walking holiday, offering a wide range of challenges and terrain.

Alternatively...
Perhaps you may wish to take a walking holiday in Perthshire, Scotland and explore the Southern Scottish Highlands and bag a Munro. Have a look at our sister Hotel The Royal Comrie Perthshire.